#10, check out Librivox

Okay, so I know Librivox is a free service, but I'm surprised at how basic its search functions, were.  I was also upset that when trying to listen to one of Karl Marx's works, the different parts were labelled by the whatever points the reader or uploader chose, not based on chapter.   The fourth file was the first one to actually be the book, but it wasn't labled as such.   I also quickly found out that a work like Marx's, with its complicated phraseology and numerous footnotes (which are read in the order they are encountered in the reading), is for me, impossible to follow via audiobook format.  I also found that the reader's voice can add or detract from the original work.

I was, however, excited that I got to clean my room as a work by Alduous Huxley was read to me in an Irish accent.  Definitely not possible with a book.

Step #9, Locate Podcasts

So, I've only had a few exposures to podcasts up to this point.  For this project, I quickly found some podcasts that I was into.  I found that "Ted" talks are usually in podcast format.  So, I loaded a couple up, and listened on the way to work.  This tech is pretty cool, but I do think some of the preloaded and saved media will be replaced by streaming when bandwidth and improves.

I located most of my podcasts with Google searches about specific data sources or topics of interest to me.

Thank God I wasn't forced to use Itunes.

Youtube: 1.6 billion dollars and still unprofitable

Before I began this post, I had to re-check the above claim.  I did that here

 Yet it was still a fantastically intelligent move for Google to snatch it up at that price.  Why?  Lemme go find some more data for you...

"Youtube.com is ranked #3 in the world according to the three-month Alexa traffic rankings. Roughly 22% of visitors to the site come from the US. It has a bounce rate of about 24% (i.e., 24% of visits consist of only one pageview), and Youtube.com has been online since 2005. The site belongs to the “Video Sharing” category."

From Alexa

Man I wish I had 1.6 bill and a half decade to prove an idea right.

  (Don't forget site #1, also Google)

Edit:
Oh yeah, I was supposed to actually check out videos and Youtube and such.  Nah man, I'm on to Vimeo now, best in quality and load speeds, to my knowledge.

Step #7, Have some Flickr Fun

Okay, I'm gonna be honest.  I thought this was gonna be a boring post that I just got out of the way.  My initial exposure to Flickr machups was non-thrilling, just some colloges and pointless spirals.

Everything has now changed.

I did a Google search for useful Flickr mashups, which led me to a top ten list of fun and useful Flickr mashups, and discovered something called: Islands of Conciousness

http://incubator.quasimondo.com/flash/islands_of_consciousness.php

Random music affecting digital transitions of random Flickr photos.

I didn't get something useful, but I got something big.

Gimme a couple days, and I'll re-post why it's a big idea....

Step 6, Explore flickr:

Here are some facts about Flickr:
   Wow, it turns out Flicr itself was mashed together from tools created for a massively multiplayer game.

Even more wow, Flickr has a patent pending for something they call "Interestingness."  Interestingness is a combination of click-through data, favorites, comments, linking-to and more.  They use this meta-data mashup allow users to peruse what is inspiring all this activity in other users.  I see MAJOR MAJOR MAJOR potential for a tool of this nature.

Imagine a world so completely saturated with information that users need develop new techniques of finding anything in info-fog.  They will come to rely on net stats, seeing what other sentient individuals are perusing.  Yet this form of information chasing has its downsides.  The most immediate weakness that comes to mind is user attention doesn't necessary indicate quality, although Flickr's use of favoriting could counter the pure click through data.

I also spent a ton of time on Flick, loving the:
      -Ability to find groups dedicated to specific subjects
      -Worldwide Community
      -Geotagging of Photo's
     -Ability to contact / comment / become friends with users
      -Ability to see other users' favorites (If they are ok with it)
      -FREENESS: Well, you gotta pay for pro accounts, but you get a lot for free

Step #4, Create a post about 7 and 1/2 lifetime learning habits and something technology related

Oh boy I've been waiting for a post like this.  One of the seven and a half lifetime learning habits is to play.  I've never had trouble with this one.  I think the way I refuse to use directions is what Krug would describe as "muddling through."  

I've got a new toy to play with, to "muddle through"

It's my new Android hand computer.  I've got a sensational set of apps that really hook me into the information superhighway.  Some of the best include:
   -Mint, which links to my bank accounts, alerts me of any activity I deem alert-worthy, and has already saved me tons of money, including helping me catch an instance where a hotel double-billed me for a room that I had already payed Priceline for
   -Barcode Scanner, which scans barcodes of products and gives me local and web prices, allowing the whole world to compete with whatever brick and mortar store I happen to be in.

The Android experience is not something I would recommend for most cell phone users.  The interface is glitchy, and the user is left to assist themselves, there is no cusotmer service solution for when your dozens of apps start to not play nice, and your os is bogged down with code.

But I keep playing, and the result can be truly fantastic.